Application of LANDSAT satellite imagery for iron ore prospecting in the Western Desert of Egypt

Prospecting for iron ore occurrences was conducted by the Remote Sensing Center in Bahariya Oasis-El Faiyum area covering some 100,000 km squared in the Western Desert of Egypt. LANDSAT-1 satellite images were utilized as the main tool in the regional prospecting of the iron ores. The delineation of the geological units and geological structure through the interpretation of the images corroborated by field observations and structural analysis led to the discovery of new iron ore occurrences in the area of investigation

Design modern structure for heterojunction quantum dot solar cells

This paper proposal new structure for improving the optical, electrical characteristics and efficiency of 3rd generation heterojunction quantum dot solar cell (HJQDSC) (ITO/CdS/QDPbS/Au) model by using the quantum dot window layer instead of bulk structure layers cell. Also, this paper presents theoretically analysis for the performance of the proposal HJQDSC (ITO/QDCdS/QDPbS/Au) structure. The new design structure was applied on traditional (SnO2/CdS/CdTe/Cu) and (ZnO/CdS/CIGS/Mo) thin film solar cells which based on sub-micro absorber layer thickness models by replacing the bulk CdTe, CIGS absorber layers and CdS window layer with quantum dot size materials to achieve higher efficiency with lesser usage layer material. Also, it has been studied the effect of using semiconductors layers in quantum dots size on electric and optical properties of thin film solar cells and the effect of window and absorber layers quantum dots radii on the performance of solar cells. Finally, a thermal efficiency analysis has been investigated for explaining the importance of new structure HJQD solar cells

Bicarbonate Resensitization of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus to β-Lactam Antibiotics.

Endovascular infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are a major health care concern, especially infective endocarditis (IE). Standard antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) defines most MRSA strains as "resistant" to β-lactams, often leading to the use of costly and/or toxic treatment regimens. In this investigation, five prototype MRSA strains, representing the range of genotypes in current clinical circulation, were studied. We identified two distinct MRSA phenotypes upon AST using standard media, with or without sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) supplementation: one highly susceptible to the antistaphylococcal β-lactams oxacillin and cefazolin (NaHCO3 responsive) and one resistant to such agents (NaHCO3 nonresponsive). These phenotypes accurately predicted clearance profiles of MRSA from target tissues in experimental MRSA IE treated with each β-lactam. Mechanistically, NaHCO3 reduced the expression of two key genes involved in the MRSA phenotype, mecA and sarA, leading to decreased production of penicillin-binding protein 2a (that mediates methicillin resistance), in NaHCO3-responsive (but not in NaHCO3-nonresponsive) strains. Moreover, both cefazolin and oxacillin synergistically killed NaHCO3-responsive strains in the presence of the host defense antimicrobial peptide (LL-37) in NaHCO3-supplemented media. These findings suggest that AST of MRSA strains in NaHCO3-containing media may potentially identify infections caused by NaHCO3-responsive strains that are appropriate for β-lactam therapy

KinFit: A factual aerobic sport game with stimulation support

Overweight and obesity is a situation where a person has stacked too much fat that might affect negatively his/her health. Many people skip doing exercises due to several facts related to the encouragement, health-awareness, and time arrangement. Diverse aerobic video games have been proposed to help users in doing exercises. However, we observe some limitations in existing games. For instance, they don't give correct scores while wearing Arabic traditional suits, they don't consider showing immersive realistic scenes, and they don't stimulate users to do exercises and keeping them encouraged to play more. We propose in this paper an aerobic video game that displays real scenes of aerobic coaches and keeps the user notified about doing exercises. It is a kind of serious games that allows users to learn aerobic movements and practice with aerobic coaches. It contains several exercises in which each can be played on normal screen or in fully immersive virtual reality (VR). While the user is playing, he/she can see the playing score with the estimated amount of burned calories. It stores the time when the user plays to remind him/her about doing exercises again. The profound user studies demonstrated the usability and effectiveness of the proposed game. 2018 Kassel University Press GmbH.The authors would like to acknowledge that devices and equipment were provided by the Visual Computing Research Center, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, at Qatar University. This publication was supported by Qatar University Collaborative High Impact Grant QUHI-CENG-18/19-1. The content of this article and its quality are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of Qatar University.Scopu

Interaction of CO molecules with (Cu , Ag and Au) deposited on regular and defective MgO and BaO(001) surfaces: Density functional calculations

The adsorption properties and characteristics of CO on Cu, Ag and Au atoms deposited on various sites of the alkaline earth oxide MgO and BaO. The three members of morphological irregularities, terrace, edge, and oxygen terminated corner of MgO and BaO (001) surface have been studied by means of density functional calculations and embedded cluster model. The examined clusters were embedded in the simulated Coulomb fields that closely approximate the Madelung fields of the host surfaces. The  adsorption  properties  of  CO  have  been  analyzed  with reference  to  the  nature  of  the  oxide  support,  pairwise  and  non-pairwise  ..........Please read the full paper

Investigation of the Axial Rotor Thrust in Centrifugal Compressors استقصاء الدفع المحورى على العضور الدوار فى الضواغط النابذة

الهدف من البحث هو دراسة وتحليل والتعين الدقيق للدفع المحورى علىالعضو الدوار فى الضواغط الطاردة المرکزية. نشرح العوامل التى تؤثر علىالدفع المحورى مثل زيادة الأحمال على ضاغط ثانى أکسيد الکربون عنأوضاع التشغيل التصميمية له . کما تتضمن العوامل تأثير وجود Fouling مع الغاز مما ينتج عنه تراکم على الأسطح الداخلية لدفاعات العضو الدوارفيتسبب فى زيادة الدفع المحورى وتقليل من أداء الضاغط . يتناول البحثشرح العلاقة مابين الدفع المحورى للعضو الدوارفى وجود نسبة Foulingمع الغاز فى خلال فترة زمنية محددة من بعد عمل عمرة کاملة لضاغط ثانىأکسيد الکربون . بعد الدراسة والتحليل نقف على کيفية تقليل الدفع المحورىعلى العضو الدوار وذلک بوضع اسطوانة اتزان على العضور الدوار لخلققوى معاکسة له تتناسب مع جميع الظروف التشغيلية لضاغط ثانى أکسيدالکربون بحيث أن الدفع المحورى للعضو الدوار بعدها لا يتعدى 50 % منحمل الکرسى. النتائج النهائية التى تم الحصول عليها: عند استخدام قطراسطوانة اتزان = 158.6686 mmt D تکون أعلى قيمة للدفع المحورى عنأوضاع التشغيل المختلفة للضاغط هى 93.193 % من حمل الکرسى. عنداستخدام قطر اسطوانة اتزان = 186.065 mmt D تکون أعلى قيمة للدفعالمحورى عن أوضاع التشغيل المختلفة للضاغط هى 73.35 % من حملالکرسى. عند استخدام قطر اسطوانة اتزان = 174.595 mmt D تکونأعلى قيمة للدفع المحورى عن أوضاع التشغيل المختلفة للضاغط هى41.22 % من حمل الکرسى مع وجود Fouling مع الغاز وعند أقصى حملللضاغط بعد العمرة فى عدم وجود Fouling مع الغازهى 0 % من حملالکرسى وهذا يعتبرأنسب قطر يستخدم لاسطوانة الاتزان (Balance drum)لان الدفع المحورى يکون أقل من % 50 من حمل الکرسى.Abstract: This article is a study, analysis, and determine accurately the axial rotor thrust for centrifugal compressors. Are explained the factors that affect axial rotor for carbon dioxide compressor during operating conditions. Also, the effect of the existence of fouling with gas, results in the accumulation of fouling on the internal surfaces of the impellers leading to an increase in axial rotor thrust and reduction of the performance of the compressor. The relationship between axial rotor thrust and fouling ratio with time is discussed after complete overhaul for the carbon dioxide compressor. The axial rotor thrust on the carbon dioxide compressor is reduced by placing balance drum on rotor of the compressor in the opposite direction of the axial force which is suitable for all operating conditions of the compressor. The resultant axial force didn’t exceed 50 % of rated bearing load, and the analysis method is then approved to be effective. The residual thrust load for high pressure rotor for the compressor before modification at design operating condition is equal to 13.68 % of rated bearing load, while at the high load without fouling effect for the compressor is equal to 58.47 % of rated bearing load and compressor with fouling effect is equal to 110.9 % of rated bearing load. When using the balance drum diameter Dt =158.6686 mm, the highest value of axial thrust force is equal to 93.193 % of rated bearing load. When using the balance drum diameter Dt =174.595 mm, the highest value of axial thrust force is equal to 41.22 % of rated bearing load. When using the balance drum diameter Dt =186.065 mm, the highest value of axial thrust force is equal to 73.35 % of rated bearing load

Do vitamin d deficiency and hepatitis c virus infection play a role in oxidative stress in patients on maintenance hemodialysis?

Background: Elevated oxidant levels and low antioxidant levels in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) play a significant role in the development of endothelial dysfunction, atherogenesis and cardiovascular disease (CVD). A deficiency in vitamin D (Vit.D) is also suggested to be responsible for the generation of oxidative stress (OS) and CVD. Among dialysis patients, conflicting data exist concerning the relationship between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and OS. We studied the relationship between 25Vit.D level, HCV infection, and plasma 8 iso-prostaglandin F2 α (8-ISO-PGF2α) as an OS marker in an Egyptian hemodialysis (HD) cohort.Methods: One hundred and twenty ESRD patients on HD were initially recruited to the study but only 88 patients have met the inclusion and none of the exclusion criteria. Midweek predialysis session blood samples were collected for the measurement of 25(OH) Vit.D, plasma 8-ISO-PGF2α, high sensitivity C – reactive protein (hs-CRP), and intact parathyroid hormone (intact PTH). Patients were stratified into two groups according to the presence or absence ofserum antibodies against HCV and their plasma 8-ISO-PGF2α were compared.Results: Vit.D deficiency was noted in 93% of the participants; the median 8-ISO-PGF2α level was 382 pg/mL. No significant correlation between Vit.D and 8-ISO-PGF2α levels was found. Thirty-two participants (36%) were HCV+ and their 8-ISO-PGF2α levels were significantly lower relative to in the seronegative group (median 171 vs. 647 pg/mL; P < 0.006).Conclusion: In this Egyptian HD cohort, Vit D deficiency was highly prevalent, yet failed to show any correlation with F2-isoprostanes. HCV+ HD patients might be shielded from OS

Efficient Catalytic Production Of Biodiesel Using Nano-sized Sugar Beet Agro-industrial Waste

This paper addresses the use of agro-industrial residue as a promising heterogeneous catalyst for the efficient production of biodiesel. That is, CaO-rich Sugarbeet agro-industrial waste (smashed down to nano-size) shows superb catalytic activity for biodiesel production via transesterification process employing sunflower oil and methanol. Physicochemical properties of the proposed catalyst are probed by TGA–DTG, XRF, XRD, FT-IR, SEM, BET, and CO2-TPD techniques. Biodiesel conversion (%) of Ca. 93% is achieved under the optimal conditions (catalyst loading of 1 wt%, methanol/oil molar ratio of 4.5:1, refluxed at 75 °C for 60 min). The relatively short reaction time indicates the enhanced kinetics of the process using the proposed agro-industrial residue which imparts its economic feasibility. Also, the proposed CaO-rich residue can be reused twice while retaining its catalytic activity. The thus-produced biodiesel fuel compiles the ASTM D6751 and EN-14214 specifications